Foot pump



Sept. 1, 1959 J. M. JORDAN 2,901,980

FOOT PUMP Filed March 22, 1957 FIG. l f j j E L 42 i 2 PIG-.2 5% 7 4c INVENTOR. JAMES M. JozsAN -y rorzusxs United States Patent 2,901,980 Patented Sept. 1, 1959 fiice FOOT PUMP James M. Jordan, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada Application March 22, 1957, Serial No. 647,878

3 Claims. (Cl. 103-188) This invention relates generally to pumps, and more particularly has reference to a pump that while being adapted for general purpose use, is especially Well designed for hand operation in removing water from underground petroleum storage tanks, or similar installations.

In tanks of the character described, water tends to enter the storage tank, and must be removed from the bottom of the tank. One important object of the present invention is to provide a foot pump that is well designed to accomplish said removal, with the pump being particularly designed for connection in a spring of pipe passing directly through the petroleum or other stored liquid. Another object is to provide a pump of the character described that can be manufactured at low cost, will be etlioient in operation, and will be adapted for long, trouble-free use.

Still another object is to provide a pump as stated in which the pumping action is efliciently caused to occur responsive to repeated depressions of the uppermost pipe section through which the output of the pump is to flow.

Thus, the uppermost section may be provided with a handle, treadle, or other means for depressing the same at a location found convenient to the user. On each depression of the uppermost section, an additional quantity of the liquid is forced upwardly out of the pump, and return of the section is etfected by a compression spring provided in the pump cylinder.

' Still another object is to provide a pump which will be particularly characterized by the ease of assembly or disassembly thereof. In this way, it is proposed to facilitate to a marked degree maintenance operations. on the pump, or alternatively, dismantling of the pump for installation at a different location.

Another object is to provide a pump of the character described which, though especially Well adapted as noted above for pumping liquid from underground storage tanks, is nevertheless adapted with equal facility for use in pumping liquids from tanks located at or above ground level.

' Still another object of importance is to provide, in a pump of the character stated, cooperating springs one of which is adapted to effect return of the reciprocating upper section to its initial or starting position, with the other being adapted as a shock-absorbent spring to cushion the movable parts of the device against damage or tendency to loosen under the shocks that would otherwise occur during the reciprocation of the upper section of the pump.

Still another object is to so assemble the component parts of the pump as to permit selective tensioning of the return spring responsive merely to bodily adjustment of inlet and outlet check valve assemblies axially of the associated pump cylinder.

A further object is to provide a pump which will be adapted to elfect the rapid pumping of a substantial quantity of liquid despite the relatively small, compact formation of the pump.

- Other objects will appear from the following description, the claims appended thereto, and from the annexed drawing, in which like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pump according to the present invention, in which the dotted lines show the upper section or outlet tube in the position assumed thereby at the extreme limit of the suction stroke thereof;

Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view on line 2-2 of Figure 1 in which a portion of the outlet tube has been broken away;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view on the same scale as Figure 2, taken substantially on line 33 of Figure 3; and

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view substantially on line 4-4 of Figure 2, on the same scale as Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings in detail, an elongated, constant diameter pump cylinder 10 is formed open at its opposite ends, and at its lower end receives an annular connector ring 12, which is Welded or otherwise fixedly secured to the adjacent end of the cylinder, said ring 12 having an outwardly directed peripheral flange abutting the end of the cylinder as shown to best advantage in Figure 2.

Ring 12 is internally threaded, to receive an externally threaded support ring 14. Ring 14 may be threaded axially of the ring 12, and hence of the cylinder 10, to any selected position within the limits determined by the threads of the ring 12, 14. At its outer end, ring 14 projects beyond the ring 12, and has an outwardly directed peripheral flange adapted to receive a wrench or similar tool as best shown in Figure 1.

Ring 14 is internally threaded, to receive external threads provided upon a connector tube 16, that extends downwardly from the ring 14, the lower end of the connector tube being externally threaded to receive an internally threaded collar 18 integral or othewise made rigid with a depending support foot 20 adapted to engage the bottom B of the tank in which the pump is .disposed. It is not necessary, however, that the pump be located at the bottom of a tank, and it will be understood that it can be located anywhere desired along the string of pipe leading from the tank. The construction of the pump itself is of main importance, rather than its particular location along the length of the string of pipe through which the liquid is to flow when being pumped out of the tank. Ordinarily, in a situation in which the pump is to be installed for the purpose of pumping water from the bottom of an underground storage tank, the pump might be disposed as shown adjacent the bottom of the tank. If located at a higher elevation along the length of the string of pipe, pipe sections would be connected at the inlet side of the pump, extending downwardly to terminate a short distance above the bottom of the tank.

The connector tube 16 is internally threaded at its lower end to receive an inlet nipple 22, extending downwardly below the tube 16 for receiving a jam nut 24,

.which is turned home against the adjacent, lower end of the tube 16.

Fixedly engaged in the upper end of the connector tube 16 is an annular valve seat 26 having its upper end beveled so as to receive an inlet check valve ball element 28, adapted to rise and fall within a valve cage 30. Cage 30 may be formed from a single piece of metal material fashioned to a ring shape to engage in the support ring 14, with said ring of the cage being integral with upwardly convergent fingers 32 adapted to provide an abutment limiting upward movement of the ball element while still permitting the free flow of liquid from the valve cage to the interior of the cylinder 10.

At the upper end of the cylinder, there is secured thereto a top plate "or end wall 34. This provides a guide bushing, adapted for connection to the cylinder by means of circumferentially spaced screws 36 passing through openings in the cylinder and threadedly engaged in the openings of the bushing.

Abutting at one-end against the underside ofthe cap plate or guide bushing 34 is a shock-absorbent spring 38, and extending through the spring and through an opening of 'the plate 34 is an elongated outlet tube 4ti the upper end of which receives a nipple 42 adapted to permit'connection of additional sections of the pipe to the pump at the output side thereof.

'Engaged fixedly in the lower end of the outlet tube 40 is a nipple 44, the lower end of which is externally threaded for engaging internal threads provided in a valve-hous ing 46 that extends axially within the cylinder in spaced relation to the side wall of the cylinder.

A nut 48 is threaded on the nipple 44, above the .valve housing 46, and bears against the upper one of a pair of identically but oppositely formed gasket retainer rings 50, said rings 50 being engaged in a circumferential recess provided in the outer surface of the valve housing 46. Engaged between the retainer rings 50 is a gasket comprising a rubber O-ring 52, which is in sealing, wiping contact with the side wall of the cylinder 10. It will be understood that by threading the nut 48 downwardly a selected distance, the retainer rings 50 will be shifted toward each other to effect compression of the O-ring 52.

The valve housing 46 has a chamber 54 progressively reduced in cross-sectional area toward its upper end, and communicating freely at its upper end with an outlet tube 40 through the medium of the nipple 44.

At its lower end, valve housing 46 is internally threaded to receive an externally threaded, annular valve seat 56 having a beveled top surface on which seats an outlet check valve ball element 58.

Limiting upward movement of'the ball element'58 is a stop pin 60 extending diametrically of the lower end of the nipple 44 and fixedly secured to the side wall of the nipple.

The nipple 44, housing 46, nut 48, rings 50, O-ring 52, valve seat 56, ball element 58, and pin 60 together define a combined piston and outlet check valve assembly generally designated 61. Said assembly may appropriately be considered as comprising two'sub-assemblies. One of these is a piston 68 that includes the retainer rings 50, nut 48, and O-ring 52. The other is an outlet check valve that includes all the remaining components-of the assembly 61. The outlet check valve sub-assembly is generally designated 70.

A compression coil spring 62 is engaged at one end against the lower end of the housing 46, and at its other bears against the support ring 14. Spring 62 constitutes a return spring, in the sense of shifting the housing 46 and outlet tube 40 upwardly in a return direction, during the suction stroke of the outlet tube following depression of the outlet tube by the user.

Adjacent the upper extremity of the cylinder 10, there is formed in the side wall thereof a circumferential series of ports 64 communicating with the chamber above the location of the O-ring 52, in all positions of the O-ring, valve housing, and outlet tube. Spaced axially of the cylinder 10 from the ports 64 are drain openings 66, these also being angularly spaced about the circumference of the cylinder. At the end of the suction stroke of the outlet tube, the O-ring moves above the drain openings, as shown in Figure 2.

In use of the pump, one manually shifts the outlet tube 40 through its pressure stroke, that is, from its dotted line to its full line position of Figure 1. At the beginning .of the pressure stroke, theoutlet tube is in the position shown in Figure 2.

-In any event, on movement of the outlet tube 40 inwardly of the cylinder 10 through its pressure stroke, any fluid which was previously drawn into the cylinder below During the pressure stroke, spring 62 compresses as necessary.

When the pressure stroke has been completed, and pressure on the outlet tube '40 is released by the user, spring 62 is free to expand. The spring, expanding, shifts the piston upwardly, and this unseats ball element 28 while seating the ball element 58. There is thus a tendency to cause a vacuum within the cylinder 10, with a fresh supply of fluid being drawn into the cylinder through the cage 32. At the completion of the suction stroke, the O-ri-ng 52 moves upwardly above the level of the drain openings 66, so that for the moment there is free communication between the interior of the cylinder and the storage tank proper.

The'purpose of the ports 64, of course,.is to .prevent compression of fluid in the space between the cap plate :34 and the piston. The liquid is at all times free to flow into and out of the upper portion of the cylinder, above the piston, through the ports 64.

It will also be noted that on the suction stroke, spring 38 is adapted to cushion the piston as it nears the extremity of its up stroke, so as to prevent shocks from .being transmitted to the piston.

The pump, as will be appreciatedyhas general utility wherever liquids need to be pumped. However, as previously noted, itJhas the adaptability for being employed to particular'advantagein underground storage tanks, such as may beprovided at automobile service stations, air fields, etc.

The pump is also characterizedby its ease of assembly and disassembly, and in addition has the desirable characteristic of pumping a substantial quantity of fluid, despite the relatively compact size of the pump. In this connection, the pump can be readily connected in a string of pipe, and can-even be a fully portable pumping device, capable of being carried about from place to place, wherever needed.

Another characteristic of the device resides in the adaptability for adjusting the tension of the spring 62 either concurrently with or independently of the tension adjustment of shock absorber spring 38. For example, the tension of both springs can be adjusted simultaneously, by threading of the valve housing 46 axially of the nipple 4.4 to a selected location along the length of the nipple. The nipple can of course be of any desired length, and need not be a short length nipple such as that illustrated. .If the valve housing is adjusted upwardly in Figure 2, this would of course place the spring 48 under increased tension, while correspondingly decreasing the tension of the spring 62. In each position to which the valve housing is so adjusted, the nut 48 is turned home against the gasket retainer ring 50, so as to lock the valve housingin the-selected position of adjustment whilesimultaneously compressing the gasket 52-.

Tension of the spring 62can be adjusted also, by threading of the support ring 14 upwardly or downwardlyin Figure .2, to any extent desired, limited of course by the length of the support ring.

These adjustments also have the effect of increasing ordecreasing, whichever is desired, the size of the compartment in the cylinder Within which the fluid is trapped between the check valve assemblies.

In another environment in which the device can be readily used, it could be employed in association with storage tanks located above the ground level, where there is a quantity of water or other liquid to be removed from the tank. In this instance, a hose would beattached to the upper end of the pipe sections leading upwardly from the pump. The other endof the hose would be lowered to the level of the stored liquid in the tank, andby use .ofthe pump thehose-will berfilled with liquid so as to initate a siphoning action. The siphoning action is maintained with ease through the use of the pump.

While of course materials are not critical to successful operation of the invention, it would be preferred, in instances in which the pump is used near a flammable liquid, that it be manufactured of a non-sparking material, such as brass, copper, aluminum, etc.

It is believed apparent that the invention is not necessarily confined to the specific use or uses thereof described above, since it may be utilized for any purpose to which it may be suited. Nor is the invention to be necessarily limited to the specific construction illustrated and described, since such construction is only intended to be illustrative of the principles of operation and the means presently devised to carry out said principles, it being considered that the invention comprehends any minor change in construction that may be permitted within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A pump comprising a cylinder; an inlet valve assembly stationarily mounted at one end thereof; an outlet tube projecting into the cylinder through the other end thereof and mounted in said other end for reciprocation longitudinally of the cylinder; a combined piston and outlet check valve assembly carried by the outlet tube within the cylinder, including an annular piston slidably, sealably contacting the side wall of the cylinder and an outlet check valve encircled by the piston in supporting relation thereto; a first spring within the cylinder abutting at its ends against and held under compression between the respective assemblies; and a second spring within the cylinder, abutting at its ends against and held under compression between the second-named assembly and said other end of the cylinder, the first spring being arranged to exert a continuous pressure on the secondnamed assembly tending to bias the outlet tube in one direction away from the inlet valve assembly when the tube is being reciprocated, said first spring returning the piston to a starting position after each pressure stroke, the second spring being arranged to exert a continuous pressure on the second-named assembly tending to bias the same in an opposite direction during said reciprocation, said cylinder having longitudinally spaced openings in its side wall one of which opens into the space between the piston and the inlet check valve assembly when the piston is at the beginning of its pressure stroke, and the other of which opens into the space between the piston and said other end of the cylinder when the piston is at the beginning of its pressure stroke, the piston, when moving toward the inlet check valve assembly during its pressure stroke, being shiftable past the first named opening to temporarily locate both openings in communication with the space between the piston and said other end of the cylinder, said piston and outlet check valve of the second-named assembly being connected to the outlet tube for conjoint adjustment longitudinally of the outlet tube so as to adjust the tension of both springs simultaneously.

2. A pump as in claim 1 wherein the inlet check valve assembly is mounted on the cylinder for adjustment longitudinally of the cylinder so as to adjust the tension of the first spring independently of the second spring.

3. A pump as in claim 2 wherein each of said assemblies includes a ball check valve element, an abutment against which the same is movable when unseated, and a seat for said element, said seat of each assembly being adjustable longitudinally of the cylinder toward and away from the abutment independently of the adjustment of the position of the entire assembly.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 523,757 Brooks July 31, 1894 1,264,554 Peron Apr. 30, 1918 1,539,556 Garber May 26, 1925 1,702,534 Bucket Feb. 19, 1929 1,749,216 Goldman Mar. 4, 1930 2,438,153 Dick Mar. 23, 1948 2,741,994 Dann Apr. 17, 1956 2,775,436 Zub Dec. 25, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 621,054 Great Britain Apr. 4, 1949 702,088 Great Britain Jan. 6, 1954 728,267 Great Britain Apr. 13, 1955 795,902 France Jan. 13, 1936 939,833 Germany Feb. 2, 1956 1,004,457 France Mar. 31, 1952 

